The Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico recently ruled on a significant property ownership dispute involving Miguel Feliciano Avilés and others against the estate of Juan Bautista Avilés. The court's decision, issued on June 12, 2026, overturned a prior ruling that dismissed the appellants' claim to ownership of two properties located in Aguada. This case is crucial for individuals claiming property rights through long-term possession, known as usucapión.
The dispute began when the appellants, Miguel Feliciano Avilés and Carmen Cortés Ruiz, filed a petition in November 2024. They sought to declare their ownership of two properties based on usucapión, a legal principle allowing individuals to gain ownership of land through continuous possession. The properties were originally acquired through two deeds in 1987. The appellants claimed they had possessed the properties publicly and peacefully for over thirty years without interruption.
Initially, the lower court ruled against the appellants, stating they had not properly followed the legal requirements needed to convert their claim into a formal usucapión action. The court indicated that they should have named the recognized owners of the properties in their filing. This ruling prompted the appellants to appeal the decision, arguing that the court had misapplied the law.
The Court of Appeals, led by Judge Candelaria Rosa and joined by Judges Adames Soto and Campos Pérez, reviewed the case. The court found that the lower court had erred in dismissing the appellants' claim. The judges stated, "The lower court incorrectly applied the requirements of the domain record procedure instead of evaluating the case as a contentious usucapión action as regulated by the Civil Code." This ruling emphasized that the appellants had adequately demonstrated their long-term possession of the properties.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeals noted that the appellants had provided evidence of their ownership through public deeds and established their continuous possession of the properties. The court ruled, "We see no reason not to declare the appellants as owners of the disputed properties." Consequently, the court ordered that the properties be registered in the appellants' names.
This decision has significant implications for property rights in Puerto Rico. It reinforces the principle that individuals can claim ownership of land through long-term possession, even if they do not have formal titles. The court's ruling clarifies the distinction between usucapión actions and domain record procedures, which could influence future property disputes.
Going forward, this ruling may encourage more individuals to pursue claims based on usucapión, knowing that the courts may recognize their long-term possession as a valid basis for ownership. It also underscores the importance of properly framing legal actions to ensure they align with the applicable laws.
Details were not available in the court filing regarding whether the decision can be appealed. There is no indication of any related cases pending at this time.